Stahl asserts dominance

All along the Western and Northern fronts, the forces of Warsmith Stahl had fought and bled to claim Hexis for the forces for their nascent Empire. Indeed, if you were to listen to words of the sons of the bitter brother, their empire would already be claimed if not for the unreliability of their corrupted and unreliable allies. In 2601.019M42, Lycurgus Stahl’s gaze fell once again on his allies, seeing a frustrating lack of activity on the Eastern front. Line Captain Zhorisch of the southern defences was dispatched with a Dekathlea to seize the Ancient Fort, and punish any allies that got in their way.

Enroute to the Ancient Fort, Thousand Sons of the Emerald Serpent, still wary of Stahl since the imprisoning of their daemon prince, Marcus, moved to intercept the Iron Warriors. The Iron Warriors immediately took defensive positions as the Thousand Sons advanced, their Sorcerer's demanding they explain their presence. In return to the demands the Iron Warriors unleashed a storm of Autocannon, bolt and plasma fire, cutting down several Rubicae. Cursing the fickle nature of the Iron Warriors, the Sorcerers wove magics to obfuscate their most valuable units and hurled the Contemptor Dreadnought forward who ripped through several Legionaries. The Thousand Son’s appeared to have the upper hand but the Iron Warriors doggedly refused to abandon their position.

Everything proceeded according to Tzeentchs Great Plan, or at least that is what they say; the leader of the Thousands Sons cursed this as daemons tore at his mind as he attempted to weave his magicks. Things went from bad to worse as Line Captain Zhorisch and his Terminators teleported behind the Thousand Sons line and cut down the Sorcerer with a storm of plasma fire. Zhorisch then charged into the Rubicae line. With the attack of the Terminators, the left flank of the Thousand Sons was collapsing, though the Contemptor had almost single handedly secured the right.  Once again weaving their magicks, the Thousand Sons walked through the warp to reinforce the beleaguered left - and catch Zorisch in the same trap he launched. Bolt after sorcerous bolt slammed into Zhorisch, but he refused to fall, bellowing his rage as he charged the Rubricae lines once more along with his surviving Terminators.

The Thousand Sons gambit would prove to be their undoing, the Chosen of the Iron Warriors moved from their defended position to attack receiving covering fire from Havoc autocannons. Together they cut down all the Rubicae and Sorcerers, leaving half the battlefield in the Iron Warriors hands. The surviving Sorcerer's wounded Zhoirsch out of spite, who finally collapsed, but they knew they were beaten. The Iron Warriors continued to pump fire into the Thousand Sons, destroying the Contemptor and cutting down even more of the Rubicae as they pulled back. The remaining Iron Warrior forces advanced into the Ancient Ruins unmolested, having once again asserted their dominance over the forces of Chaos.